Ultimate Screaming Frog SEO Audit Guide for Beginners

Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a tool that is highly popular among crawling tools used in SEO studies and is used at least once by every SEO specialist. Screaming Frog tool, which has two different options: free and premium, allows you to scan a website completely and detect all errors. In this guide, I have compiled everything you need to know about Screaming Frog, all sections of Screaming Frog and their meanings, how to use Screaming Frog, and how to detect SEO errors of a website with Screaming Frog.

What Is Screaming Frog SEO Spider?

Screaming Frog SEO Spider is an SEO crawling tool created by Screaming Frog, a company established by Dan Sharp in 2010. Despite its official name, the tool is commonly referred to as “Screaming Frog” within the internet and SEO industry. The Screaming Frog tool has a free version that allows you to crawl a limited number of URLs, and a premium version that allows you to crawl unlimitedly.

Unlike its competitors (DeepCrawl, JetOctopus, OnCrawl), it is not a cloud-based web application, but a Java-based software. In other words, you can install and use Screaming Frog as a program on your computer. Today, Screaming Frog has more than 100 thousand downloads in total and is a tool that every SEO specialist in the SEO industry uses at least once.

Why Use Screaming Frog for SEO Audits?

Screaming Frog is a go-to tool for SEO professionals because it:

• Saves time by automating website crawls.
• Provides in-depth data on site performance.
• Integrates with other tools like Google Analytics, Search Console, and PageSpeed Insights.
• Offers customizable crawl settings for targeted audits.

Step-by-Step Guide to SEO Auditing with Screaming Frog

Now let’s examine briefly how to use the Screaming Frog program.

Step 1: Download and Install Screaming Frog

• Visit the Screaming Frog website and download the software.
• Install and launch the tool on your computer. Choose between the free and paid versions based on your website’s size and needs.

Step 2: Configure Crawl Settings

Before starting your crawl, configure Screaming Frog to suit your audit goals:

• Spider Settings: Go to Configuration > Spider and customize options like crawling JavaScript, AJAX, or XML sitemaps.
• Exclude Parameters: Use the “Exclude” option to filter out irrelevant pages, such as staging URLs or tracking parameters.
• User-Agent: Simulate different user agents, like Googlebot, to analyze how search engines view your site.

Step 3: Start Crawling Your Website

• Enter your website’s URL in the search bar and click “Start.”
• Screaming Frog will begin crawling your site, gathering data on URLs, metadata, images, links, and more.

Step 4: Analyze Crawl Data

Once the crawl is complete, dive into the key areas to identify issues:

1. Status Codes

• Check the “Response Codes” tab for broken links (404 errors) and server errors (5xx).
• Ensure 3xx redirects are correctly pointing to relevant destinations.

2. URL Structure

• Review the “Internal” and “External” tabs to ensure URLs are short, descriptive, and SEO-friendly.
• Identify duplicate or inconsistent URL structures.

3. Metadata

• Use the “Page Titles” and “Meta Description” tabs to find missing, duplicate, or poorly optimized titles and descriptions.
• Ensure metadata is within the recommended character limits and contains target keywords.

4. Headers (H1, H2, etc.)

• Check the “H1” and “H2” tabs to ensure each page has a unique H1 tag.
• Ensure header tags are logically structured and include relevant keywords.

5. Content Analysis

• Use the “Content” tab to identify thin or duplicate content.
• Check for missing alt text in the “Images” tab and ensure images are compressed for faster loading times.

6. Internal Linking

• Review the “Internal” tab to ensure a strong internal link structure.
• Identify orphan pages (pages with no internal links) and link them appropriately.

7. Canonicalization

• Check canonical tags in the “Directives” tab to prevent duplicate content issues.
• Ensure canonical tags point to the preferred version of each page.

8. Robots.txt and Meta Robots

• Verify critical pages aren’t blocked by robots.txt or “noindex” tags.
• Use the “Directives” tab to review meta robots tags.

9. Sitemaps

• Compare your XML sitemap with the crawl results to ensure all important pages are included.

10. Page Speed Insights

• For paid users, Screaming Frog integrates with Google PageSpeed Insights to provide detailed page speed metrics. Optimize loading times for better user experience and rankings.

Step 5: Export Data for Further Analysis

• Export the crawl data into spreadsheets for deeper analysis.
• Filter and sort data to prioritize critical issues like broken links, missing metadata, or slow-loading pages.

Step 6: Fix Identified Issues

High Priority Fixes:

• Address broken links and server errors.
• Update missing or duplicate metadata.

Medium Priority Fixes:

• Optimize images for faster loading.
• Improve internal linking structure.

Low Priority Fixes:

• Adjust minor header or URL issues.
• Review canonical tags and sitemap discrepancies.

Step 7: Monitor and Repeat

• Regularly audit your site to catch new issues early.
• Use Screaming Frog’s API (in the paid version) to automate parts of your audit process.

Now let’s explain these topics in detail, step by step:

How To Download And Install Screaming Frog?

To use Screaming Frog software, start by downloading the appropriate version for your device—whether it’s Windows, Mac, or Ubuntu. https://www.screamingfrog.co.uk/seo-spider/#download You need to download it from here. When you run the installation file downloaded to your computer, you must complete the installation steps. Once the installation is complete, Screaming Frog will be ready to use on your computer.

When you first run Screaming Frog, you will see this screen and if you do not have a license, you will be able to scan a website with a maximum crawling limit of 500 URLs.

Purchasing And Activating A Screaming Frog License

If you want to scan an unlimited number of URLs by purchasing a license instead of using the free version, first
https://www.screamingfrog.co.uk/seo-spider/licence/ You need to purchase a license from . After you have a license, you need to open the Screaming Frog software and activate your license from the “Licence > Enter License” section in the top menu.

Screaming Frog is currently available for $259 per year. Frankly, this price is quite affordable for an SEO tool with so many control features.

How Do I Audit With Screaming Frog?

You can easily crawl your website with Screaming Frog. To get started, simply enter the starting URL in the relevant section of the program. This option is located at the top of the screen.

From here I would like to inform you that you can only crawl one website at a time. You cannot browse multiple sites at the same time. I would also like to point out that Screaming Frog crawls by internal linking. Therefore, if you have unlinked pages within the site, the tool will not crawl these pages.

If you are having trouble crawling any URL, it may be due to bot blocking. For this, I recommend you check your robots.txt settings. As a solution, you can ignore Robots.txt.

Creating a Sitemap with Screaming Frog

Having an XML sitemap is highly recommended by Google. It helps crawl your site and find all your new content. Thanks to Screaming, you can create a sitemap and it is quite simple. All you need to do is follow the menu steps below.

Sitemaps > Create XML Sitemaps

How to Find Broken Links?

Broken links are one of the most popular and troublesome issues. Finding mistakes makes most people happy. To find broken links, you must first select the “Response Codes” tab and then the filter that says “Not Found” (4XX).

Thanks to this section, you can also check redirects and server errors using the filter feature of Screaming Frog.

Checking Internal Links

We have come to an important part. In this section we will learn to analyze internal links used in any URL. Steps you need to take to check internal links: Enter the URL you want to examine in the search section, then select the Inlinks sections below. It’s a really useful tool to analyze your competitors 🙂

Checking Page Titles

Checking page titles on Screaming Frog is a crucial step in on-page SEO analysis. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do this with Screaming Frog:

1. Start Screaming Frog
First, open the Screaming Frog SEO Spider tool on your computer.

2. Enter the Website URL
Enter the URL of the website you want to analyze in the text box at the top and click “Start” to start the scan.

3. Go to Page Titles Tab
Once the scanning is complete, click on the “Page Titles” tab. This tab provides a comprehensive list of all page titles available on the website.

4. Examine Page Titles
You can examine various aspects of page titles, such as:

• Title 1: The actual title tag of the page.
• Title Length: Number of characters in the title.
• Pixel Width: The width of the title in pixels; This helps ensure it doesn’t get truncated in search results.
• Status Code: HTTP status code of the page.
• Indexability: Whether the page can be indexed by search engines.

5. Analyze Key Metrics
Check these key metrics to optimize your page titles:

• Title Length: Ideally title tags should be between 50-60 characters to avoid clogging up search results.
• Duplicate Titles: Make sure each page has a unique title tag to avoid keyword cannibalization.
• Missing Titles: Identify pages without title tags and add relevant titles.
• Title Pixel Width: Must be within 600 pixels to prevent titles from being cut off in search results.

6. Export Data
For a more detailed analysis, export the data by clicking “Export” in the upper right corner. This allows you to work with data in Excel or another spreadsheet application.

7. Optimize Titles
Based on your analysis, optimize page titles by making them short, unique and keyword-rich, and ensure they accurately reflect the content of the page.

By following these steps, you can effectively check and optimize page titles and increase the SEO performance of your site using Screaming Frog.

Checking Meta Descriptions

Checking meta descriptions in Screaming Frog is another essential aspect of on-page SEO analysis. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Launch Screaming Frog
Start by opening the Screaming Frog SEO Spider tool on your computer.

2. Enter the Website URL
Enter the URL of the website you want to analyze into the text box at the top of the tool and click on “Start” to begin the crawl.

3. Navigate to the Meta Descriptions Tab
Once the crawl is complete, click on the “Meta Descriptions” tab. This tab will display a list of all the meta descriptions found on the website.

4. Review Meta Descriptions
In this tab, you can review various aspects of the meta descriptions, including:

• Meta Description: The actual meta description tag of the page.
• Meta Description Length: The number of characters in the meta description.
• Pixel Width: The width of the meta description in pixels.
• Status Code: The HTTP status code of the page.
• Indexability: Whether the page is indexable by search engines.

5. Analyze Key Metrics
Pay attention to the following metrics to optimize your meta descriptions effectively:

• Meta Description Length: Keep meta descriptions under 160 characters to avoid truncation in search results.
• Duplicate Meta Descriptions: Ensure each page has a unique meta description to maximize click-through rates and avoid duplicate content issues.
• Missing Meta Descriptions: Identify pages without meta descriptions and add relevant ones to improve click-through rates and SEO.
• Meta Description Pixel Width: Limit meta descriptions to around 920 pixels to prevent truncation in search engine results pages.

6. Export Data
To conduct a more detailed analysis or share findings, click on “Export” in the top-right corner to export the data to a spreadsheet format.

7. Optimize Meta Descriptions
Based on your analysis, optimize meta descriptions by making them compelling, unique, and relevant to the content of each page. Include keywords naturally to attract clicks from search engine users.

By following these steps, you can effectively check and optimize meta descriptions using Screaming Frog, enhancing your website’s SEO performance and user engagement.

Checking Title Tags

Checking title tags in Screaming Frog is an essential part of SEO analysis. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

1. Launch Screaming Frog

Start by opening the Screaming Frog SEO Spider tool on your computer.

2. Enter the Website URL

Enter the URL of the website you want to analyze into the text box at the top of the tool and click on “Start” to begin the crawl.

3. Navigate to the Page Titles Tab

Once the crawl is complete, click on the “Page Titles” tab. This tab will display a list of all the title tags found on the website.

4. Review Title Tags

In the “Page Titles” tab, you can review various aspects of the title tags, including:

• Title 1: The actual title tag of the page.
• Title Length: The number of characters in the title.
• Pixel Width: The width of the title in pixels.
• Status Code: The HTTP status code of the page.
• Indexability: Whether the page is indexable by search engines.

5. Analyze Key Metrics

Pay attention to the following metrics to optimize your title tags effectively:

• Title Length: Aim for title tags between 50-60 characters to avoid truncation in search results.
• Duplicate Titles: Ensure each page has a unique title tag to avoid keyword cannibalization and improve search engine visibility.
• Missing Titles: Identify pages without title tags and add relevant ones to improve SEO.
• Title Pixel Width: Titles should ideally be within 600 pixels to prevent them from getting cut off in search engine results pages.

6. Export Data

To perform a more detailed analysis or share findings with others, click on “Export” in the top-right corner of the tool to export the data to a spreadsheet format.

7. Optimize Title Tags

Based on your analysis, optimize title tags by making them concise, descriptive, and relevant to the content of each page. Include primary keywords naturally to improve search engine rankings and click-through rates.

By following these steps, you can effectively check and optimize title tags using Screaming Frog, enhancing your website’s SEO performance and visibility in search engine results.

You may also like this: Screaming Frog SEO Spider Update Version 20.2 Article

30 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is an SEO audit?

An SEO audit is a process to analyze a website’s search engine performance and identify issues that may hinder rankings. It involves reviewing technical aspects, content, and user experience to enhance overall optimization.

2. Why is Screaming Frog essential for SEO audits?

Screaming Frog simplifies SEO audits by automating website crawls and providing detailed insights into technical issues, metadata, broken links, and more. It’s an efficient tool for professionals to optimize sites quickly.

3. Is Screaming Frog free to use?

Yes, Screaming Frog offers a free version with a limit of 500 URLs per crawl. The paid version removes this limit and adds advanced features like integrations and API access.

4. What are the main features of Screaming Frog?

Key features include:

• Crawling website URLs
• Identifying broken links and errors
• Checking metadata and headers
• Reviewing canonical tags
• Integrating with Google Analytics and PageSpeed Insights

5. Can I use Screaming Frog for competitor analysis?

Yes, you can crawl competitor websites to analyze their strengths and weaknesses. This can help you identify opportunities to improve your own site.

6. How often should I conduct an SEO audit?

It’s recommended to perform SEO audits quarterly or after significant website changes. Regular audits help maintain optimal performance and catch issues early.

7. Does Screaming Frog provide keyword data?

Not directly. However, integrating Screaming Frog with Google Analytics and Search Console can provide keyword and traffic insights alongside crawl data.

8. What is the difference between crawling and indexing?

Crawling refers to search engine bots scanning website content, while indexing is the process of storing and organizing that content for search results. Screaming Frog focuses on identifying crawl and technical issues that may impact indexing.

9. How do I fix broken links found by Screaming Frog?

You can fix broken links by:

• Redirecting URLs to working pages
• Updating the link to the correct destination
• Removing outdated links entirely

10. Can Screaming Frog analyze page speed?

Yes, the paid version of Screaming Frog integrates with Google PageSpeed Insights to provide detailed speed metrics for each page.

11. What types of issues can Screaming Frog detect?

Screaming Frog can detect issues such as:

• Broken links (404 errors)
• Missing or duplicate metadata
• Slow-loading pages
• Thin or duplicate content
• Missing alt text for images
• Redirect chains and loops

12. How can I exclude certain pages from the crawl?

You can exclude specific pages by:

• Using the “Exclude” option in Screaming Frog’s configuration settings.
• Adding URL patterns or parameters you want to skip during the crawl.

13. What is a canonical tag, and why is it important?

A canonical tag helps prevent duplicate content issues by specifying the preferred version of a webpage. Screaming Frog can analyze and flag incorrect or missing canonical tags.

14. Can I customize my Screaming Frog crawl settings?

Yes, Screaming Frog allows customization for:

• Crawl depth
• User-agent simulation
• Inclusion or exclusion of JavaScript, CSS, or images
• Specific directives like “noindex” or robots.txt

15. Does Screaming Frog work with large websites?

Yes, the paid version of Screaming Frog is ideal for large websites, offering unlimited crawling and advanced features like custom filters and integrations.

16. What’s the best way to prioritize fixes after an SEO audit?

Prioritize issues based on their impact:

• High Priority: Broken links, server errors, and missing metadata.
• Medium Priority: Image optimization, internal linking, and content improvements.
• Low Priority: Minor metadata adjustments, header refinements, or sitemap updates.

17. Can Screaming Frog identify mobile-specific SEO issues?

Yes, you can simulate a mobile user-agent in Screaming Frog to identify issues like mobile-friendly design problems, loading times, or viewport settings.

18. How can I integrate Screaming Frog with Google Analytics and Search Console?

To integrate:

• Go to Configuration > API Access in Screaming Frog.
• Select Google Analytics or Search Console.
• Authenticate your account and import data to enhance your analysis.

19. Is Screaming Frog suitable for beginners?

While Screaming Frog offers powerful features, beginners may need some time to learn its functionalities. Its interface is intuitive, and many online guides can help you get started.

20. How do I extract specific data with Screaming Frog?

Use the “Custom Extraction” feature to extract data like schema markup, Open Graph tags, or specific HTML elements. You can configure it in Configuration > Custom > Extraction.

21. Can Screaming Frog detect duplicate content?

Yes, Screaming Frog’s “Content” tab highlights duplicate titles, meta descriptions, and pages with identical or near-identical content.

22. What is the API feature in the paid version of Screaming Frog?

The API allows you to:

• Automate crawls
• Integrate with third-party tools like Google Analytics and PageSpeed Insights
• Fetch additional data like backlinks and traffic insights

23. Does Screaming Frog support international SEO audits?

Yes, Screaming Frog can help with international SEO by analyzing hreflang tags, detecting language inconsistencies, and ensuring proper implementation of region-specific URLs.

24. How can I monitor my progress after an SEO audit?

• Export Screaming Frog data and create spreadsheets to track changes.
• Schedule regular audits to compare results and measure improvements.

25. Are there alternatives to Screaming Frog?

Yes, some popular alternatives include:

• Ahrefs
• SEMrush
• Moz Pro
• Sitebulb

26. Can I audit an e-commerce website with Screaming Frog?

Yes, Screaming Frog is highly effective for e-commerce sites. It can analyze product pages, identify duplicate content, and review metadata for product listings.

27. How long does a crawl take?

The duration depends on:

• Website size
• Crawl settings
• Connection speed and computer performance
  Large websites may take longer, but you can adjust crawl speed in the settings.

28. Can Screaming Frog audit JavaScript-heavy websites?

Yes, Screaming Frog can render JavaScript content by enabling the JavaScript rendering mode in the crawl settings.

29. Does Screaming Frog require a high-spec computer?

For large or complex websites, a higher-spec computer with more RAM and CPU power is recommended for smoother performance.

30. How do I contact Screaming Frog for support?

Visit the Screaming Frog Support page or explore their knowledge base and community forums for assistance.

For my other articles on SEO please click the link: Search Engine Optimization

Screaming Frog SEO Spider Update Version 20.2